“I am concerned that they are offering this at a time when they can’t afford a two per cent pay rise.”

The union official said the offer had ‘come out of the blue’ to staff and to the unions.

She said: “Staff are not very happy about it.

“Obviously there are some that have volunteered.

“I’m led to believe that some have already been turned down because they are not needed.

“There was an atrium address at One Angel Square five days before where the commissioner spoke to the staff but voluntary redundancy was not mentioned and then out of the blue 3,000 people receive an email.”

A spokesman for the county council said that the expressions of interest were being looked at and it would be considered as to whether voluntary redundancy would financially stack up.